Apparatus for electrolyzing solutions



K. E, STUART.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROLYZING SOLUT|ONS..

APPLICATION FILED JAN-28,1921- 1,428,584 Patent d J ly 25, 2222.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

attorney? K. E. STUART. APPARATUS FOR ELECTROLYZING soumoms.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-28, I92l- ZSHEETS-SHEFT 2.

Patented July 25, 1922.

entree star KENNETH E. STUART, .OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO .HOOKER ELEG- TROGHEMICAL COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF EW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR ELEGTRODYZING SOLUTIONS.

aces-ea.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1922.

Application filed January 28, 1921. Serial No. 440,740.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, KENNETH E. STUART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Electrolyzing Solutions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates primarily to the electrolytic decomposition of solutions and more particularly to the electrolytic decomposition of sodium chlorid solutions in cells of the diaphragm type.

In its more specific aspect the invention is an improvement upon the form of apparatus disclosed in the application of Lyster and Stuart, Serial No. 403,326, filed Aug. 13, 1920, and has for its principal object the provision of a discharge nozzle or orifice especially adapted for feeding brine with salt in suspension, in measured quantities, to

electrolytic cells.

It may be stated at the outset, however, that the invention is susceptible of, broader application and that it may be generally used in all cases where a liquid is to be delivered through a relatively small orifice.

The object of the invention and the principle upon which it is based will appear more clearly from the specification and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a feed system embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation and on a larger scale of the essential parts of the. invention;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on a still larger scale of a preferred form of nozzle in accordance with the invention.

Having reference to Fig. 1, 2 represents a brine storage tank; 3 a salt hopper containing fine granulated salt; 4 a mixing and agitating tank; 5, 5, 5, 5 electrolytic cells; 6 a level-regulating tank; 7 a pipe for feeding brine from tank 4 to the cells and to the tank 6; 8 a pipe for the return of brine from tank 6 to'tank 4; 9 a pump for circulating the brine through the pipes 7 and.

8; 10 a motor on tank 4; and 10 agitators in tank 4.

The foregoing elements whose relationship and function have been fully described in the above mentioned application, serve the purpose of delivering to the cells constant volumes of electrolyte per unit of time, the electrolyte carrying salt in excess of the amount normally soluble therein at the operating temperature.

The novel features constituting the invention include principally orifices of special construction, as shown clearly in Fig. 4, for delivering the brine and the salt carried in suspension therein from pipe 7 to the cells, and a pipe system for feeding steam to the orifices.

This system comprises a steam header 11 which may be connected to any suitable steam generator, a valve 12 for controlling the supply of steam to the header 11, a check valve 13, a steam trap 13 and a plurality of branch pipes 14 leading from the steam header to the cells, of which four are shown for purposes of illustration.

Each branch pipe 14 preferably includes a steam strainer 15 and a check valve 16. The connection between the steam header 11 and the steam strainer 15 has the form of an inverted U extending upwardly from the header in order that oil, scale or other foreign matter may be, as far as possible, leftbehind in the header. The steam strainer may be discharged through an outlet controlled by a cock 17..

The orifice structure comprises in the preferred embodiment a nipple 18 welded to the pipe 7, a plug 19 screw-threaded into the nipple and carrying an orifice tube 20, preferably of Monel metal, stellite or some other material well adapted to resist corrosion. The plug 19 has a central bore extending from the top to near the bottom and the orifice 20 extends upwardly through this bore beyond the upper edge thereof, an annular space 24 surrounding the orifice tube.

With this annular space, near the bottom thereof, is connected a branch pipe 14 and also an outlet pipe 21 controlled by a cook 22.

The orifice tube 20 is screw-threaded through the bottom of plug 19 whereby it may be adjusted vertically, a collar 23 being provided to limit the upward movement.

The length of the screw-thread on the tube 20 and the length of the tube being such that the latter may have a proper range of adjustment. In practice it is undesirable that the orifice tube should be screwed down beyond a point where its upper end is flush with the bottom of the circulation pipe; hence the length of the thread on the orifice tube is preferably such that the tube will come out altogether if screwed down too far. The adjustment, which is ordinarily of the order of one-half inch, is merely intended to equalize sli ht diiferences between the several orifice tu es in a multiple cell installation. It is not intended to regulate the feed which is taken care of by the level regulating tank 6.

At the top of the annular space 2& is provided a wire screen 25 which is illustrated in the form of a cylinder having a flat top, also of wire screening. Screen 25 is soldered to the upper edge of the plug 19. The mesh of this screen is smaller than the bore of the orifice tube so that particles of foreign matter that might find their way through the screen are able to pass quite readily through the orifice tube.

Screen 25 projects into the circulation pipe 7 so that it is at all times swept clean by the stream of brine fiowing through the line.

The orifice tube may be held in any adjusted position by a lock nut-26.

The functional significance of the arrangement described is as follows:

Ithas been found by experience that there is likely to be oil or similarly acting impurities in the brine, finding its way in with the excess salt which is earned in suspension. The oil forms a coating upon the interior of the orifice tube and causes crystals of salt to adhere, with the result that there is a tendency for the rate of feed to diminish gradually. This would of course, introduce errors and obviate in a measure, the very function of the tank 6.

To overcome this difficulty, steam is used to remove fI OIII time to time the deposit formed. Steam enters the space surrounding the orifice tube 20, flows up the annular space 24 and, coming into contact with the brine in this space condenses. The hot water thus formed rises and overflows into the top of the orifice tube with the result that the orifice tube is thoroughly scalded out with hot water. By turning on a greater steam pressure, the brine may be blown entirely away from the orifice tube and the steam rushes through the screen 25 and scours off any oil and deposit that may be adhering to the screen.

Thus by the simple act of turning on the steam and turning it ofl again, the orifice tube is first scalded out and then the screen is cleaned. Cock 22 is provided for the pub pose of cleaning out sediment which might accumulate in the annular space 24.

While it is very little trouble to clean out the individual orifices once or twice a day, I have provided in the arrangement described means for cleaning all the orifices of a cell system in a single operation.

The valve 12 is normally closed and the steam header 11 is normally filled with air. When it is desired to clean the orifice the valve 12 is opened. The check valve 13 will not permit the air to escape from the header, but the steam trap 13*- is of the type which will allow air as well as water to escape and closes only when steam begins to issue through it. Thereupon the header fills with steam under pressure. The check valves 16 which should be above the hydrostatic head of the brine open and steam is blown through all the orifices as has been previously I described.

When the valve 12 is closed again, the steam-continues to How until the pressure in the header falls to a point where it is balance'd by the hydrostatic head of the brine.

Thereupon the check valves 16 close. and

prevent the brine from entering into the header.

Simultaneously the steam remaining in the header gradually condenses whereby a vacuum begins toform. Immediately the check valve 13 opens admitting air to satisfy for passing a cleaning fluid through the said 2. In a system for feeding electrolyte to an electrolytic cell, the combination with a pipe and an orifice for dispensing electrolyte therefrom, said pipe and orifice constituting a continuous conduit, of means independent of said conduit and the flow of liquid therethrough for passing a cleaning fluid through said orifice.

3. In a system for feeding electrolyte to an electrolytic cell, the combination with a ipe and an orifice for dispensing electro yte therefrom, of means independent of said conduit and the flow of liquid therethrough for passing steam through the said orifice.

4. In a system for dispensing liquid, the combination with a vessel containing the liquid, of a tube extending from points within the vessel to the outside thereof constituting an orifice, a chamber surrounding the tube and communicating with the inner end thereof, a fluid conduit connected with the chamber and means for controlling the said conduit.

5. In a feed system for liquids the combination with a vessel containing the liquid and a tube projecting into the vessel, of a chamber surrounding the tube and communicating with the inner end thereof, a steam conduit connected with the chamber, means for controlling the flow of steam and means responsive to pressure in the conduit for preventing the flow of the liquid beyond a predetermined point in the conduit when the steam supply is cut ofi. a

6. In apparatus of the type described, a supply conduit, a discharge tube extending from points within the conduit to the outside thereof and verticall adjustable therein, a chamber surroundlng said tube and communicating with the inner end thereof, and valve-controlled means for supplying a cleansing fluid to said chamber and tube.

7. In apparatus of the type described, a supply conduit, a discharge tube extending from points wlthin the tube to the outside thereof and vertically adjustable therein, a

screen over the inner end of said tube, a chamber surrounding said tube and communicating with the inner end thereof, and valve-controlled means for supplying a cleansing fluid to said chamber and tube.

8. In apparatus of the type described, a supply conduit, a vertical discharge tube projecting into said tube, a screen over the inner end of the tube, a chamber surrounding said tube and communicating with the inner end thereof, and valve controlled means for supplying a cleansing fluid to said chamber and tube.

9. In a circulating system, the combination with a substantially straight conduitsec-tion forming part thereof and an orifice in the conduit section intermediate its ends, of a screen extending across the orifice and disposed in the 'line of flow of the liquid fiowin through the conduit section.

10. n a circulating system, the combination with a conduit forming part thereof and a pluralit of orifices in spaced relation lengthwise .o the conduit, of a tubular screen extending across each orifice and disposed in the line of flow of the liquid flowing through the conduit.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

KENNETH E. STUART. 

